Birthday of Benito Juarez

Besides being Good Friday, today is the birthday of one of Mexico's great presidents. An important statesman and liberal reformer, Benito Juarez was the first and only full-blooded indigenous leader to serve as president of Mexico. Born in 1806 in the village of Guelatao, Oaxaca, he studied for the priesthood before choosing to pursue a career in law. He was elected governor of Oaxaca in 1847 and later served as president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in 1872. Widely quoted for his saying "Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz," (Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace), Juarez' legacy includes the separation of church and state, and free and obligatory education. Benito Juarez' birthday is a national public holiday in Mexico.

Read a biography of Benito Juarez by Christopher Minster, About.com's Guide to Latin American History.